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| National |
| Supporters tell Chihana to quit government |
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by
Peter Makossah, 12 July 2004
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09:04:21
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Aford supporters in the North are demanding that the party and its leader Chakufwa Chihana quit government to concentrate on a rebuilding exercise that will see it field its own presidential candidate in 2009 elections.
The supporters also accuse the ruling UDF of failing to honour a provision in the two parties’ memorandum of understanding that Aford would get the office of the second vice president in the coalition government.
Aford’s deputy publicity secretary Khwauli Msiska confirmed on Thursday that the party’s supporters are demanding that Aford leaves government.
“It is true that people want their party back in form. The last general elections were nothing but a protest and Aford is a listening party. We are in consultation on the matter but we will have to listen to the wishes of the people and this is a clear indication that Aford is a political force in the North. We chose to work with Mgode because as a breakaway party they understand the genesis of Aford,” said Msiska.
Random interviews conducted by Nation Online in the North indicate that most supporters of the party want Aford to be independent of the UDF to regain lost glory in its Northern Region stronghold.
Aford’s branch chairperson in Rumphi, Fwasani Nyirenda said in an interview people at the grassroots were angry because they were not consulted during the coalition negotiations.
“We want our party to be independent of any other party. Aford is one of country’s three major parties. We love our party and we don’t want it to be sold. We don’t want our party to be a shadow or be operating under the armpits of other parties. We want Aford to rule this country one day,” said Nyirenda.
Another supporter Lington Mwambene from Karonga said if Chihana does not want to leave the UDF-led government, he must resign and let other people take the party back to its past glory.
A Mzuzu-based party executive member who sought anonymity said Chihana is under pressure from supporters to either resign as party president or pull out of government and start rebuilding.
“What we are saying is that we want our party back on its feet. So it is up to Chihana to choose between working on revamping Aford or walking out of it and join the UDF,” said the executive member.
Member of Aford task force on the rebuilding exercise Elijah Bota said on Thursday the group has discovered that people in the region want the party to reclaim its support.
“As a task force we would like to meet the president and discuss with him what the party’s supporters want at the grassroots. We feel that Aford needs to be an independent political force,” said Bota.
Two months ago, the task force convened a meeting in Mzuzu where they resolved that the office of the vice president should not be negotiable because it was agreed between Aford and UDF. President Bingu wa Mutharika ignored the agreement when he named his cabinet.
Chihana, who has been talking to allies in Aford splinter group Mgode to join forces in the rebuilding efforts, could not be reached for comment in Rumphi as he was reported to be out meeting people on the matter.
The Aford leader is said to have been conducting such meetings since last week.
Mgode secretary general Rodger Nkhwazi said it is important that Aford and its leadership listen to the wishes of the people.
“We could not have broken away from Aford if they listened to us and further more the party could have been stronger today if they listened. They have a last chance. To listen and forge ahead or never listen and crumble,” warned Nkhwazi.
Aford, which held a tight grip on the Northern Region in previous elections were embarrassed in the May 20 elections when they could only retain six seats out from 33.
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